AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFalcons trying to keep Boley as part of nucleus
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Falcons are engaged in contract extension talks with outside linebacker Michael Boley, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Since Boley, who leads Atlanta with 101 tackles, has only three years of NFL service, he would be a restricted free agent if no accord is reached.
That means that the Falcons could match any offer Boley signs with another team. Atlanta likely would place a contract tender on Boley — as it did with Matt Schaub and Demorrio Williams last season — that would result in them receiving draft picks from any team that would want to sign Boley.
The move to reach out to Boley falls in line with team owner Arthur Blank’s pledge that the Falcons would do what they could to retain players they want to be part of their young nucleus. It’s not known if they have any other players they are trying to extend but the defensive building blocks, other than Boley, appear to be John Abraham, Jamaal Anderson, Trey Lewis, and Chris Houston.
Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was on that list before the season. His contract expires after 2008. There were talks before this season about an extension but him and the Falcons seemingly have backed off those desires after some bad feelings developed over the past few months. Whether a bridge can be built is always possible but as of right now, Hall could be traded or kept around for one more season.
Two starting defenders who contracts expire after this season are safety Chris Crocker and outside linebacker Demorrio Williams. The Falcons, at this point, have shown no signs of trying to stop them from hitting the open market.
Veteran DT Rod Coleman, who is on injured reserve, has two years and $8.25 million remaining on his deal. MLB Keith Brooking is owed more than $10 million over the next two seasons. With those hefty price tags, it will be interesting, as the Falcons plan for next season, if both players are retained.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By NJFalcon
November 28, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
Don’t be stupid…..sign HALL!!!!!!!! Say what you want about him. I LOVE HIS INTENSITY. That’s FOOTBALL ladies…get over it.
By Singletary
November 28, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
Hey — it’s the GENTLEMEN who haven’t signed Hall yet, and this check says he should be signed now.
He is a top 5 — probably best 3 — in the League. I’ll take a little mouth for having a shut down corner. Let’s see if Coach is man enough to not say “my way or the highway.” He got his $100k piece of flesh for admittedly a bad perfermance, so let’s see if both are mature enough to make this work.
By ATLplayer
November 28, 2007 6:32 PM | Link to this
trade or cut both Brookings and Coleman! Anyone should see they will only hurt the team progress next year.
By Original Man
November 28, 2007 6:37 PM | Link to this
Quote:Keith Brooking is owed more than $10 million over the next two seasons…I wouldnt pay him $10 dollars let alone $10 Mill.
By Brown Paper Bag
November 28, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this
Finally!! Somebody on this board talkin with some common sense
By shawn
November 28, 2007 7:02 PM | Link to this
are u talking about get burnt every single game run his big fat mouth hall trade his thung and get him out of town with the rest of the trash on this team why wood u want to keep meagelio hall hes a peace of crap
By David
November 28, 2007 7:07 PM | Link to this
We don’t need Halls BIG MOUTH,Iam 50 years old and he couldn’t keep up with me,get rid that piece of crap now.
By ncochransr
November 28, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
Hall only uses his mouth to cover up his short comings! Talking about a cover corner? He needs to carry a blanket with him to cover anything. Every good reciever has burned him all year. Sure he shuts down the third and fourth recievers but not the number 1 or 2.
By Najeh Davenpoop
November 28, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Re-signing Boley is a no brainer, he is a borderline Pro Bowler. For all the crap DeAngelo takes, much of it deserved, he is still better than all but maybe 5 corners in the NFL. I believe no WR has gained more than 70 yards against him this year. Pay up. Crocker can be let go, and if the coaching staff feels strongly about Stephen Nicholas then they should get Demorrio go as well.
By NJFalcon
November 28, 2007 9:39 PM | Link to this
I can clearly see that some of you people don’t understand the game of football. Hall is a top 5 corner in the nfl. Who’s gonna take his place. Him and the rookie are gonna be good for the future of the falcons. I don’t care what hall says, as long as he produces on the field. Peyton manning hardley wanted to throw to his side of the field. I agree brooking, coleman, dunn, horn, gandy. Time for them to go.
By Scott
November 28, 2007 10:09 PM | Link to this
We gotta face reality here…the Falcons are in total rebuilding mode. NOBODY is absolutely untouchable.
I’ve always liked Brooking, but at $10 million…it may be time to cut ties (although the team has much bigger issues to handle). LIKE, getting $19 million back from Vick - if they don’t they’ll be screwed for years.
As far as DHall, I like his play and I can handle the mouth, but I really don’t think he wants to be here because Petrino won’t kiss his butt like Mora did. So, you gotta strongly consider trading him (he’ll be gone eventually about the time the team is improved) - he’s gotta be worth a high first round pick.
They gotta keep Boley, and I would like to see D Williams stay also.
As far as the draft….BEEF. O lineman wherever they can. There are a lot of good (but not great likely) QB’s in this next draft, and they don’t have to use a 1st round pick on one. Remember Brady Quinn fell to 22nd last year, and not because he wasn’t considered good, but because no teams were ready to invest in a rookie QB. Falcons need to be patient here.
By Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 28, 2007 10:10 PM | Link to this
18.25 Mil for Brooking and Coleman? Hey if we are going to already take a cap hit w/ Vick go ahead a raid the kitchen and throw Brooking and Coleman out. Unbelievable that in the twilight we would pay that much for them. Use it to sign Me’Angelo, he may have a mouth and give up a play here and there but when its all said and done he’s a stud!
By Enough
November 28, 2007 10:37 PM | Link to this
You gotta keep Coleman, Brooking if he is willing to re-do his contract. You have to draft or get a free agent impact MLB. That would allow you to use Brooking and Nicholas on the weakside. Hall and his unwillingness to be a playmaker on offense and special teams said a lt about his character. Now I can care less about liking him but if a guy isn’t willing to use his skills to help the team, not sure if I would want him around. You could use him to get some draft picks in the early rounds with a trade and with Houstons development its a no brainer. Jamal Anderson is a bust. Can’t get off his blocks and has made no impact in the rush game. Heck they may want to try him at LB. He has the size, speed just looks out of position at DE. He could be like Adelius Thomas and use that athleticism to help the team. Coaching has been a dissapointment. Just expected more creativity out of Petrino on offense which really has made what could have been a top 10 defense ineffective. The defense for the patchwork that it is plays pretty darn respectable most games. If you could have just gotten more plays out of this offense this team would easily be making a playoff push. Not sure how drafting a bunch of rookies into Petrinos scheme will help that. Unless he is tanking the season on purpose which it sure seems like at times. Snellings should have been on roster day one at RB and its inexcusable to go in to a season without a kicker, and honestly Mort is way pass his prime. I guess a lot of the blame goes to Mckay but I am sure he let Petrino have lots of input on the roster to start the season. Honestly though can’t put too much on Mckay because they should have won games 1,2,3,7. Heck easily 6 or 7 wins at this point. Yo-Yo coachinh or a guy trying to tank the season. Sunday, if Joey can’t complete a freaking pass over 10 yards yank his but. Give Redman a chance, can’t be much worse and looked decent in preseason. Close strong and at least give the fan base a little hope for next year, winning is always good and in the NFC this year, who the heck knows what could happen.
By GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
November 28, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this
WE NEED TO TRIM THE FAT FROM THIS TEAM STARTING WITH OUR DISGRACEFUL O-LINE SEE IF WE CAN ADD SOME FREE AGENTS FROM THE COLT AND WE NEED TO GET BOB SAUNDERS FOR COLT TO HAVE A GOOD SAFETY SO THAT D HALL CAN JAM AT THE LINE WITHOUT WORRIES OF NO HELP BEHIND HIM THEN WE NEED TO GO AFTER HAYNESWORTH FROM TENN. TO STOP THE RUN THEN WE NEED LANCE BRIGGS CHI.TO SHOW KEITH BROKKING HOW TO PUT FEAR OTHER TEAMS ON 3RD AND 3 SO WHAT HAPPENED TO US WITH CARLINA WHEN THEY LINE UP WITH NO QB AFTER THAT LOOK FOR A QB, OTHER RUNNING BACK AND WR ALSO GEEETT RID OF M. JENKINS AND SORRY BUT MALLOY IS WASHED UP AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND A REAL SPECIAL TEAMS (RETURNER TOO) TEXT TO BE LINKED